Accept vs. Except: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Published on November 6, 2023
"Accept" means to receive or agree; "except" implies exclusion. Both have distinct roles in sentences.
Key Differences
"Accept" is a verb that signifies agreement or receipt of something. "Except" is usually a preposition or conjunction, used to exclude something from a statement or situation.
When you accept, you're in agreement with or receiving what is offered. "Except" is about exclusion, setting something apart from a group.
"Accept" often involves an action, like accepting an award. "Except" is passive, used to set boundaries or limitations.
"Accept" indicates inclusion or a positive response, such as accepting an invitation. "Except" highlights an outlier or exception to a general rule.
Misusing "accept" and "except" can lead to confusion, as "accept" suggests receiving or agreeing, while "except" indicates an exclusion or exception.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Verb
Preposition, conjunction
Meaning
To receive or agree to
To exclude or omit
Use in a Sentence
Involves action or agreement
Sets boundaries or limitations
Connotation
Positive, agreement
Exclusion, exception
Misinterpretation
Can be mistaken for agreement
Can be mistaken for exclusion
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Accept and Except Definitions
Accept
To give admittance or approval to.
The club did not accept my application.
Except
With the exclusion of.
Everyone was invited except me.
Accept
To answer affirmatively
Accept an invitation.
Except
If not for the fact that.
I would go, except it's too far.
Accept
To agree to take (a duty or responsibility).
Except
Only; with the exception (often followed by "that").
She was well, except that she was tired.
Accept
To receive (something offered), especially with gladness or approval
Accepted a glass of water.
Accepted their contract.
Except
Used to introduce an exception or limitation.
He is widely traveled, except in Africa.
Accept
To admit to a group, organization, or place
Accepted me as a new member of the club.
Except
With the exclusion of; other than; but
Everyone except me.
Accept
To regard as proper, usual, or right
Such customs are widely accepted.
Except
If it were not for the fact that; only. Often used with that
I would buy the suit, except that it costs too much.
Accept
To regard as true; believe in
Scientists have accepted the new theory.
Except
Otherwise than
They didn't open their mouths except to complain.
Accept
To understand as having a specific meaning.
Except
(Archaic) Unless
"And ne'er throughout the year to church thou go'st / Except it be to pray against thy foes" (Shakespeare).
Accept
To endure resignedly or patiently
Accept one's fate.
Except
To leave out; exclude
An admission fee is charged, but children are excepted.
Accept
To be able to hold (something applied or inserted)
This wood will not accept oil paints.
Except
To object
Counsel excepted to the court's ruling.
Accept
To receive officially
Accept the committee's report.
Except
(transitive) To exclude; to specify as being an exception.
Accept
To consent to pay, as by a signed agreement.
Except
(intransitive) To take exception, to object (to or against).
To except to a witness or his testimony
Accept
To take payment in the form of
A store that does not accept checks.
Except
With the exception of; but.
There was nothing in the cupboard except a tin of beans.
Accept
(Medicine) To receive (a transplanted organ or tissue) without immunological rejection.
Except
With the exception (that); used to introduce a clause, phrase or adverb forming an exception or qualification to something previously stated.
You look a bit like my sister, except she has longer hair.
I never made fun of her except teasingly.
Accept
To receive something, especially with favor. Often used with of.
Except
(archaic) Unless; used to introduce a hypothetical case in which an exception may exist.
Accept
(transitive) To receive, especially with a consent, with favour, or with approval.
Except
To take or leave out (anything) from a number or a whole as not belonging to it; to exclude; to omit.
Who never touchedThe excepted tree.
Wherein (if we only except the unfitness of the judge) all other things concurred.
Accept
(transitive) To admit to a place or a group.
The Boy Scouts were going to accept him as a member.
Except
To object to; to protest against.
Accept
(transitive) To regard as proper, usual, true, or to believe in.
I accept the notion that Christ lived.
Except
To take exception; to object; - usually followed by to, sometimes by against; as, to except to a witness or his testimony.
Except thou wilt except against my love.
Accept
(transitive) To receive as adequate or satisfactory.
Except
With exclusion of; leaving or left out; excepting.
God and his Son except,Created thing naught valued he nor . . . shunned.
Accept
(transitive) To receive or admit to; to agree to; to assent to; to submit to.
I accept your proposal, amendment, or excuse.
Except
Unless; if it be not so that.
And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
But yesterday you never opened lip,Except, indeed, to drink.
Accept
(transitive) To endure patiently.
I accept my punishment.
Except
Take exception to;
He demurred at my suggestion to work on Saturday
Accept
(transitive) To acknowledge patiently without opposition or resistance.
We need to accept the fact that restaurants are closed due to COVID-19 and that no amount of wishing or screaming will make them reopen any sooner.
Except
Prevent from being included or considered or accepted;
The bad results were excluded from the report
Leave off the top piece
Accept
To agree to pay.
Except
Other than.
There is no one here except us.
Accept
(transitive) To receive officially.
To accept the report of a committee
Accept
(intransitive) To receive something willingly.
Accept
(obsolete) Accepted.
Accept
To receive with a consenting mind (something offered); as, to accept a gift; - often followed by of.
If you accept them, then their worth is great.
To accept of ransom for my son.
She accepted of a treat.
Accept
To receive with favor; to approve.
The Lord accept thy burnt sacrifice.
Peradventure he will accept of me.
Accept
To receive or admit and agree to; to assent to; as, I accept your proposal, amendment, or excuse.
Accept
To take by the mind; to understand; as, How are these words to be accepted?
Accept
To receive as obligatory and promise to pay; as, to accept a bill of exchange.
Accept
In a deliberate body, to receive in acquittance of a duty imposed; as, to accept the report of a committee. [This makes it the property of the body, and the question is then on its adoption.]
Accept
Accepted.
Accept
Consider or hold as true;
I cannot accept the dogma of this church
Accept an argument
Accept
Receive willingly something given or offered;
The only girl who would have him was the miller's daughter
I won't have this dog in my house!
Please accept my present
Accept
Give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to;
I cannot accept your invitation
I go for this resolution
Accept
React favorably to; consider right and proper;
People did not accept atonal music at that time
We accept the idea of universal health care
Accept
Admit into a group or community;
Accept students for graduate study
We'll have to vote on whether or not to admit a new member
Accept
Take on as one's own the expenses or debts of another person;
I'll accept the charges
She agreed to bear the responsibility
Accept
Tolerate or accommodate oneself to;
I shall have to accept these unpleasant working conditions
I swallowed the insult
She has learned to live with her husband's little idiosyncracies
Accept
Be designed to hold or take;
This surface will not take the dye
Accept
Of a deliberative body: receive (a report) officially, as from a committee
Accept
Make use of or accept for some purpose;
Take a risk
Take an opportunity
Accept
Be sexually responsive to, used of a female domesticated mammal;
The cow accepted the bull
Accept
To receive willingly.
I accept your apology.
Accept
To endure without protest or reaction.
He accepted the punishment without complaint.
Accept
To regard as proper, normal, or inevitable.
The term is widely accepted in English.
Accept
To recognize as true.
I accept your argument, but I still disagree.
FAQs
What part of speech is "accept"?
"Accept" is a verb.
What does "except for" mean?
It means "were it not for."
Does "accept" only refer to receiving physical items?
No, it can also mean agreement or endurance.
Is "except" a preposition?
It can be a preposition or a conjunction.
What's the antonym of "accept"?
Reject.
Can "accept" and "except" be used interchangeably?
No, they have different meanings and uses.
Can "accept" imply consent?
Yes, it can indicate agreement or consent.
Is "accept" used in formal communication?
Yes, it's common in both formal and informal contexts.
Does "except" always indicate exclusion?
Generally, it introduces an exception or exclusion.
What's the difference between "except" and "except for"?
They're similar, but "except for" is often more emphatic.
Can "except" mean "only"?
In some contexts, it can imply exclusivity, similar to "only."
Can "except" start a sentence?
Yes, it can start a conditional clause.
What does "except" in legal terms mean?
It indicates an exclusion from a general rule.
Can "accept" indicate resignation?
Yes, it can mean enduring a situation without protest.
Can "except" introduce a clause?
Yes, when it's used as a conjunction.
What's the opposite of "except"?
Including.
Is there a noun form of "accept"?
Yes, it's "acceptance."
Is "acceptance" passive?
It can be, depending on the context.
What is the phrase "except that" used for?
To introduce a specific point of exception.
Can "accept" be conditional?
Yes, acceptance can be conditional.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
